Lee County Duo Enter Guilty Plea In Gas Station Robbery Case

Two Pennington Gap Virginia men will soon learn their fate after pleading guilty to robbing a gas station and then using the money to purchase drugs. Mark Edward Bates and Christopher Joe Parsons, each entered guilty pleas related to robbery of a gas station last November. The investigation revealed that Bates and Parsons cased the gas station and store together leading up to the robbery. Bates used a BB gun which closely resembled a pistol to rob the clerk of cash. The two later admitted to the robbery and traveling to Kingsport to purchase narcotics with the stolen cash. A sentencing hearing is schedule for August and the two remain held without bond.